System and method for providing restrained, streamlined access to a computerized information source

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a system for providing restrained, streamlined access to a computerized information source. The system--which works in association with a multipurpose computer--includes a discrete article, such as an advertising specialty like a mouse pad, having facilities to receive a user input and, in turn, generate a unique predetermined signal based on the input. The system further includes software for configuring the computer to respond to each unique predetermined signal by executing one or more commands, as selected and stored within the software. Each configuration can be dynamically locked such that the commands to be executed upon the unique input are not alterable without an authorization mechanism, such as a password. The software also responds to receipt of one of the unique predetermined signals by executing the commands associated with the received signal. A method for performing same is also disclosed. This system and method have particular application in advertising a business on the Internet, facilitating access to various locations within the domain of an Internet content provider and in managing a computer network.

We claim: 
     
       1. A system for providing restrained, streamlined access to a computerized information source for use in association with a multipurpose computer, said system comprising: a discrete article operably connected to said multipurpose computer, said discrete article containing means for generating one or more unique predetermined signals based on a user input each of said one more unique predetermined signals being selected to substantially minimize interference with a range of signals capable of being generated in association with an input device operably connected to said multipurpose computer in response to use of said input device;   means for configuring said multipurpose computer to respond to each of said one or more unique predetermined signals by executing one or more commands;   said configuring means including means for storing each of one or more commands selected in association with a respective one of said one or more unique predetermined signals as one of a plurality of switch data;   said configuring means further including means for selecting one of said plurality of switch data to be executed upon receipt of said respective one of said one or more unique predetermined signals;   said configuring means further including means for dynamically locking at least one of said plurality of switch data, such that said one or more commands to be stored there within are configurable by a user in association with an authorization mechanism;   means for receiving one of said one or more unique predetermined signals; and   means within said multipurpose computer for responding to said received one of said one or more unique predetermined signals by executing said one or more commands stored in said switch data from said plurality of switch data associated with said received one of said one or more unique predetermined signals.   
     
     
       2. The system according to claim 1 wherein said means for generating one or more unique predetermined signals based on user input comprises one or more switches. 
     
     
       3. The system according to claim 2 wherein said system further comprises means for encouraging said user to operably connect said discrete article to said multipurpose computer. 
     
     
       4. The system according to claim 3 wherein said encouraging means includes one or more of said one or more switches having unlocked switch data such that said user is permitted to configure said included one or more of said one or more switches. 
     
     
       5. The system according to claim 1 wherein said multipurpose computer is operably connected to the Internet, said plurality of switch data includes at least one addressable switch data that links said multipurpose computer to a predefined address on the Internet. 
     
     
       6. The system according to claim 5 wherein at least one of said at least one addressable switch data linking said multipurpose computer to a predefined address on the Internet is locked by said locking means, such that said user can not alter said one or more commands and said predefined address. 
     
     
       7. The system according to claim 6 wherein said discrete article is an advertising specialty, including an indicia associated with a business and said business is further associated with said predefined address on the Internet, such that said user input of said respective one of said one or more unique predetermined signals will cause said multipurpose computer to respond by linking to said predefined address on the Internet. 
     
     
       8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said advertising specialty comprises a mouse pad. 
     
     
       9. The system according to claim 8 wherein said mouse pad includes one or more discrete switches disposed on an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
       10. The system according to claim 1 wherein said multipurpose computer is operably connected to a computer network, said plurality of switch data includes at least one addressable switch data that links said multipurpose computer to a predefined resource on said computer network. 
     
     
       11. The system according to claim 10 wherein at least one of said at least one addressable switch data linking said multipurpose computer to said predefined resource on said computer network is locked by said locking means, such that said user can not alter said one or more commands and said predefined resource. 
     
     
       12. The system according to claim 10 wherein said configuring means further includes means for overwriting said plurality of switch data with a new plurality of switch data. 
     
     
       13. The system according to claim 12 wherein said new plurality of switch data is located outside said multipurpose computer elsewhere on said computer network, said new plurality of switch data leading to consistent operations across said computer network. 
     
     
       14. The system according to claim 1 wherein said configuring means further includes means for overwriting said plurality of switch data with a new plurality of switch data. 
     
     
       15. The system according to claim 1 wherein said discrete article comprises a microphone and said responding means includes voice recognition software. 
     
     
       16. A method for providing restrained, streamlined access to a computerized information sources for use in association with a multipurpose computer, said method comprising: connecting a discrete article to a multipurpose computer in operable fashion;   allowing configuration of a response of the multipurpose computer to each of one or more unique predetermined signals;   preventing reconfiguration in the absence of an authorization mechanism of one or more of the configured responses to the one or more unique predetermined signals by an end user;   generating one of the one or more unique predetermined signals via the discrete article, each the one more unique predetermined signals being selected to substantially minimize interference with a range of signals capable of being generated in association with an input device operably connected to the multipurpose computer in response to use of the input device; and   responding to receipt of one of the one or more unique predetermined signals based on the configuration of the multipurpose computer associated with the generated one of the once or more unique predetermined signals.   
     
     
       17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising the steps of: printing an indicia on the discrete article, the indicia including information associated with a business; and   providing the end discrete article to the user.   
     
     
       18. The method according to claim 17 wherein the multipurpose Computer is configured to link to an Internet address associated with the business. 
     
     
       19. A system for use in attracting an Internet user to all Internet web site of a business, said Internet user having a multipurpose computer operably connected to the Internet, said multipurpose computer including a keyboard and other user input devices, said system comprising: a discrete article having means for generating one or more unique predetermined inputs, said generating means operably connected to said multipurpose computer;   means for configuring one or more switch data records within said multipurpose computer, each switch data record having a predetermined input and a set of one or more commands to be executed in response to said Internet user inputting said predetermined input, a first one of said one or more switch data records being configured and dynamically locked to connect said multipurpose computer to said business web site via the Internet such that said first one of said one or more switch data are configurable by a user in association with an authorization mechanism;   means for receiving said predetermined input selected by said Internet user, said predetermined input being associated with a selected one of said one or more switch data records; and   means within said multipurpose computer for executing said one or more commands stored in said selected switch data record.   
     
     
       20. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said system further comprises means for encouraging said Internet user to operably connect said discrete article to said multipurpose computer. 
     
     
       21. The invention according to claim 20 wherein there are at least two switch data records, said encouraging means comprises at least one of said switch data records being configurable by said Internet user. 
     
     
       22. The invention according to claim 21 wherein said discrete article is an advertising specialty including an indicia associated with said business. 
     
     
       23. The invention according to claim 22 wherein said advertising specialty comprises a mouse pad. 
     
     
       24. The invention according to claim 23 wherein said mouse pad includes one or more discrete switches disposed on an outer surface thereof. 
     
     
       25. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said discrete article is an advertising specialty including an indicia associated with said business. 
     
     
       26. A system for providing restrained, streamlined access to a computerized information source for use in association with a multipurpose computer, said system comprising: an advertising specialty operably connected to said multipurpose computer, said advertising specialty including generating one or more unique predetermined signals based on a user input;   means for configuring said multipurpose computer to respond to each of said one or more unique predetermined signals by executing one or more commands;   said configuring means including means for storing each of one or more commands selected in association with a respective one of said one or more unique predetermined signals as one of a plurality of switch data;   said configuring means further including means for selecting one of said plurality of switch data to be executed upon receipt of said respective one of said one or more unique predetermined signals;   said configuring means further including means for dynamically locking at least one of said plurality of switch data, such that said one or more commands to be stored there within are configurable by a user in association with an authorization mechanism;   means for receiving one of said one or more unique predetermined signals; and   means within said multipurpose computer for responding to said received one of said one or more unique predetermined signals by executing said one or more commands stored in said switch data from said plurality of switch data associated with said received one of said one or more unique predetermined signals.   
     
     
       27. The system according to claim 26 wherein said advertising specialty comprises a mouse pad. 
     
     
       28. The system according to claim 26 wherein said advertising specialty includes an indicia associated with a business and said business is further associated with a predefined address on the Internet, at least one of said at least one addressable switch data linking said multipurpose computer to said predefined address which is locked by said locking means.